The Superlative A. Lincoln: Poems About Our 16th President - Hardcover

Meyer, Eileen R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1580899374 ISBN 13: 9781580899376

Publisher: Charlesbridge, 2019

Synopsis

Tallest, wisest, most studious--Lincoln was simply superlative!

Get to know the personal side of Honest Abe (his LEAST FAVORITE nickname) through fresh and funny poems expressing his superlative nature.

Abraham Lincoln is famous for many extremes: he was the TALLEST president, who gave the GREATEST SPEECH and had the STRONGEST conviction. But did you know that he was also the MOST DISTRACTED farmer, the BEST wrestler, and the CRAFTIEST storyteller? Nineteen poems share fascinating stories about events in Lincoln's life, while history notes go even deeper into how he excelled. Don't forget to think of all the ways you, too, are superlative!

About this title

About the Author

Eileen Meyer may be one of Lincoln's BIGGEST fans. For this book, she traveled to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, the National Museum of American History, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Lincoln Memorial. Born and raised in the Land of Lincoln, Eileen and her husband now split their time between Illinois and Florida.

Dave Szalay is an illustrator, teacher, and graphic designer with a deep interest in history. While researching this book, he tried to find personal details that would humanize Lincoln--like his love of cats. Dave, his wife, and their own cats live along a stream that runs through the nearby Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. www.daveszalay.com

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Simply Superlative

Come read about a legend—
the greatest of the greats;
from a poor boy in the backwoods 
to a president, first-rate.

Just how was he outstanding? 
How did he top the rest?
What was it that inspired this man 
to do his very best?

Come get to know Abe Lincoln. 
You’ll find new stories here. 
You’ll see that he’s SUPERLATIVE 
in many ways—it’s clear!

Abraham Lincoln was born in a one-room log cabin on February 12, 1809. Rising from the humblest beginnings, he became one of the most celebrated leaders in our nation’s history. As one of our greatest presidents, he strove to reach lofty goals. What challenges did he face? What made him so remarkable? These stories just might surprise you. 

Most Studious: Yearning to Learn

Abe’s schools weren’t open
through the year—
a few weeks there or one month here.

So he kept learnin’
on his own.
No internet. No telephone.

He borrowed books.
He farmed and read—
and pondered stories in his head.

He read the same
books every night.
He scribbled notes by candlelight.

No private school.
No framed degree.
Self-learning was Abe’s pedigree!

Amazingly, Abraham Lincoln had less than one year of formal schooling during his entire childhood. As Lincoln put it, his school attendance was “by littles”—a month one year, a few weeks another year. Many years there was no school offered at all in the part of rural Indiana where he grew up. His thirst for knowledge and his curiosity about the world drove him to learn all he could. Lincoln was truly a self-educated man.

Edition details

• Publisher: Charlesbridge
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1580899374
• ISBN 13: 9781580899376
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: SZALAY DAVE
• Number of pages: 48